Live for Live Music: Dead & Company Performs With Donna Jean Godchaux At Bonnaroo

Belovedensemble Dead & Company hit the main stage at Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival last night, bringing Grateful Dead classics to close out the 15th annual event. Dead & Company is the fusion of Grateful Dead members Bob Weir, Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart, with bassist Oteil Burbridge, keyboardist Jeff Chimenti, and guitarist John Mayer. After heating things up with their tour opener last Friday, June 10th in Charlotte, NC, Dead & Company held nothing back for a great performance at Bonnaroo.

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the set was the introduction of Donna Jean Godchaux, an Alabama native who made her Dead & Company debut on the Bonnaroo stage. Godchaux has appeared with Ratdog and Dark Star Orchestra in the years following Jerry Garcia’s death, including a 2009 performance with Bob Weir, Keller Williams and more at Gathering of the Vibes. Godchaux’s debut with Dead & Company certainly begs the question: will she appear with them going forward? Only time will tell.

Watch the full show in the two videos streaming below.

Dead & Company’s tour continues on Thursday, June 16th at the Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati, OH. Check out last night’s setlist in full, courtesy of Erin Lippert/FOJC.